Clyde looked at the shivering phoenix before him. He didn't notice it before but he was a lot shorter than he was. His face remained solemn as he listened to Failen speak. It's true, although not all hunters were hunting phoenixes, they were still hunting other creatures to get paid. But that's why the old code was there, so that hunters wouldn't hunt unnecessarily, so they wouldn't hunt for greed but out of necessity. But that changed...it changed ever since the Purgatory Hunters started to convene with each other, working as a fanatical cult. When Failen asked what it was that Clyde wanted and why was it that he was helping him, the hunter's face softened for a moment.
He reached out to pat Failen's thick red locks and in a voice that was tinged with sadness, he muttered, "You remind me of someone."
Back at the camp, Merlak and Jase were going about doing their own thing.
"Do you think they'll be okay?" Jase called out from his tent.
"It's Clyde, we're talking about." Merlak chuckled as he rummaged through his backpack, "Even the Purgatory Hunters don't want to make an enemy out of him."
Jase walked out of his tent and entered Merlak's, his face showing a quizzical look.
"I've heard the rumors about Clyde," Jase said as he stood at the tent's entrance, "I thought he would be...more of a cold-blooded murderer."
Merla was silent as he continued to rummage through his backpack. He then paused and pulled out a bottle of faded purple liquid.
"Clyde lives by his own rules," Merlak said as he showed the bottle to Jase, "He's different than all hunters, normal and purgatory."
Jase approached Merlak and took the bottle from his hand, "Is this the elixir you were talking about? An antidote for the cursed phoenixes?"
"Still working on it," Merlak took out a thick book and flipped through the pages, "I'm not sure how well it will work. It will depend on how corrupted the phoenix has been by the curse..."
"He killed your wife and unborn child in front of you," Jase raised an eyebrow, his voice quiet but tinged with anger, "Why do you still want to save that cursed phoenix?"
Merlak looked at Jase, his eyes determined as he spoke, "Because before he became cursed, he was my friend."
Merlak took the bottle from Jase and placed it on a table, where he placed the thick book he was just flipping through.
"We grew up together," Merlak's voice was soft, "We were childhood friends in a time when hunters still obeyed the old code. I know him well, Jase. And what killed my wife and unborn child...looked like him, sounded like him, but I know it wasn't him."
"Is that why you're trying to make a cure?" Jase asked, "So that you can return him back to normal?"
"If it works I think the elixir will benefit everyone no?" Merlak smiled wryly, "We won't have to kill phoenixes, cursed or not."
"But the Purgs," Jase shook his head, "They'll hunt you down. They won't stand idly by as you ruin whatever plans they have in store."
"True, but I'd rather make enemies with the Purgs than with the phoenixes." Merlak grinned. He picked up his book and started to flip through the pages again.
"Well time for me to continue..." Merlak trailed off. He paused for a moment, then his eyes widened.
"No...it can't be...here?" Merlak mouthed under his breath.
"What is it?" Jase asked, he looked outside of the tent but saw nothing. "Merlak?"
Merlak grabbed his rifle and stuffed the elixir into his backpack and strapped it onto his back.
"Merlak? Where you going?!" Jase called out as he chased after his friend.
Merlak stopped for a moment and faced Jase, a sad smile on his face, "It's time."
Clyde was having fun messing up Failen's hair. The young phoenix had every right to be angry with hunters, he wouldn't hold it against him. He then stopped patting Failen and gave him the articles of clothing.
"C'mon, wear this." he said kindly, "Else you'll freeze."
Clyde was about to gesture Failen to return to camp with him when he suddenly felt an unsettling presence. Immediately he jumped in front of Failen, his body tense and his eyes darting all around. There was something here...something that spells trouble for both hunter and phoenix.
The bushes about a hundred feet from them started to rustle. In the darkness a slow wobbling figure was walking towards them. Its head was hung low, and its arms slumped to its side.
"Tsk," Clyde clicked his tongue, his expression now grim as he ordered, "Get out of here Failen."
The creature walked closer and closer, till it reached a spot where the moonlight could shine through the thick forest canopy.
It was a phoenix...but instead of having red hair and beautiful rainbow colored wings, this one had rust red hair, with white strands and its wings were dull and molting. The creature raised its head, it's fiery red eyes now dull and tinged with black reflecting nothing but bloodlust. Its whole body covered in weird symbols and patterns. When the cursed phoenix spotted Failen, it spread out its wings and shrieked.